Cannabinoid Benefits in a Rat’s Mesenteric Artery

Cannabinoids are a group of chemicals that come from the cannabis plant (cannabis sativa). Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of these chemicals and studies have suggest that it has anti inflammatory effects when induced in animals. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is another one of these compounds that wields a psychotropic effect in animals. Cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) are found in the endocannabinoid system and allow cannabinoids to bind and do their job in the body. This paper will look at how the activation of a specific cannabinoid receptor by a selective cannabinoid, SR141716A, can cause relaxation in the mesenteric artery of a rat.

The mechanisms of the cannabinoid receptor activator SR 141716A, were evaluated in rat isolated mesenteric arteries. At doses of higher than 3 mM, it made ‘concentration-dependent, but endothelium-independent, relaxations of both methoxamine- and 60 mM KCl-precontracted vessels’. This indicates that such doses of SR 141716A are not good for the evaluation of cannabinoid receptor-dependent actions.Inflammatory pain is a known symptom of a number of chronic inflammation diseases, such as sickle cell disease and cancer, but cannabis has proven important in pain management. The cannabinoids in cannabis act upon the cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1, CB2), which are involved in the mediation of pain associated with inflammation. This study has proven that cannabinoids can deinflam and relax mesenteric artery of rats.

Cannabinoids can cause relaxation

Overall, the current research has seen that, at doses of 10 mM and above, SR 141716A makes endothelium-independent vascular relaxation through inducing of cannabinoids, and also induces relaxations controlled by cannabinoid receptor triggering. This data indicates at specific doses of SR 141716A are not appropriate for the evaluation of cannabinoid receptor-dependent actions.

Registered with the British Psychological Society, breaking the taboo on mental health issues is one of the driving forces in Jonathan's life. His background in biomedicine gives him additional understanding of the factors that work together to influence the human condition.